Page 158 of Taint My Soul

“To your end.”

I pull out my gun and load the magazine, mentally preparing myself for the battle ahead. The boat idles off, humming against the deep blue ocean water. We drive for minutes until the other island appears at the end of the horizon.

An unexplainable weight settles into my bones when I see the Red Vault. Round, thick steel walls. Three stories. With guards manning every entrance. How could this man punish his children this way? He’s a monster for building a place like this. For subjecting Saint to this fucking horror.

After tonight, it’ll be over. Cyrus will take him and do whatever he pleases, hopefully kill him. He didn’t deserve to see the sunrise again. And wherever my dead uncle was, that’s where he’ll end up.

In the darkness, our boat almost reaches shore. The engine dies as Cyrus turns it off, and we jump into the water, moving toward the forest surrounding the structure as quickly as possible.

The cold metal of my pistol rests against Tobias’s skull. Beside me, Cyrus levels his weapon, arms locked and steady, fingers tightening on the trigger as his aim narrows at Cyrus’s head.

“Team B check in.” Cyrus speaks into his walkie-talkie.

“We are already on the island, and we are closing in.” Blessing offers.

“Team S.”

“Just made it there. Headed on foot, over.” Spencer says.

A renewed sense of hope lights in my chest. We will get this done once and for all.

As the forest around us gives way to the entrance, silent shots whip through the air, and the soldiers manning the entrance drop to the ground. The soldiers walking the circular hall on the second and third entrances grunt as the other team takes them out.

We approach the steel door, and I force Tobias’s frail hands up to the entrance. The door scans him and clicks, wheezing as it slides open. The soldiers in the hall retaliate, taking down one of our men. But Cyrus and the others return the bullets immediately.

“Where is he?” I ask and shove Tobias forward.

“Last floor.” He says as we take a turn. What I don’t expect to see is the man hanging from the vaulted ceiling, hoisted by chains.

Vincent Bishop.

He’s here. Of course, he’s here. Fear clenches my insides, but I remind myself that things are different right now. He’s trapped whilst I’m free. And whatever debt my uncle owed him has been settled cause the motherfucker was dead.

I return my attention to Tobias as we hurry up the stairs, taking down his soldiers on our way. The air tastes like steel, gunpowder, and blood. Adrenaline buzzes through every nerve ending in my body. I’m getting closer to saving him. To getting him back.

When we appear on the last floor, Tobias leads us down the circular, lit hallway. A soldier grunts and slumps right beside me. His body thuds against the steel floor, blood leaking onto the surface. Cyrus and I retaliate synchronously, taking down the other man.

It’s just me, Cyrus, Tobias, and a soldier left.

We come to a halt in front of a door, and Tobias lifts his hand and slams it against the biometric lock. The door hisses open, and I shove Tobias into Cyrus’s arms, storming into the dark space.

It’s empty.

It’s fucking empty.

He knew Saint wasn’t here, and he led us to it anyway.

Anger slithers through my blood, the venom scalding hot. My jaw sets with white hot rage. I whip around and storm toward Tobias, seizing him from Cyrus’s hand and shoving him against the wall.

I lift my fist and bring it down against his face. His head snaps sideways, blood oozing from his broken nose.

For a split fucking second, his face warps into my uncle’s, but I know the difference now. I only need answers. I won’t kill him. I won’t let my anger overwhelm me.

“Tell me!” I bark into his face.

He grins at me, blood-colored teeth and lips, no single remorse in his eyes.

Then footsteps and the clatter of a weapon catch my attention.